Baripada: Thinking of the word ‘mother’ conjures up pictures of love in our mind. On Mother’s Day– second Sunday of May, the whole world gives tribute to mothers, a wonderful creation of God and a living statue of love and care. But this day has a dark side also.
There are large numbers of old age homes where mothers are still waiting for their children to come and look after them, not only on Mother’s Day but in their whole lives. Some children abandonthem for their economic deprivation and are not able to manage them. Some even don’t care for their mothers after they turn old.
Radharani Panda, 60, has been living in ‘Sudhar Home’an old age home in PalabeniGolaiin Baripada city for 14 years now. She belongs to a Brahmin family that abandoned her after she took Christian religion.
Being inspired by the thoughts of Christian religion she had changed her religion to Christianityin 2006. Being furious at this, her family members gaveher physical and mental torture on a daily basis. Unable to bear the torture she left her home. Baripada police saved her from a road side and sent her to the old age home.
When police asked about her condition she had not told even a word against her husband and son. She told them I pray before god that my family member stay happy.
Another ill-starred mother SarojiniDeai, who stays in the same old age home, said she got his son after 12 years of prayer. After a few years she delivered a baby girl.
But his young son went wayward and misbehaved with his parents. So she and her husband started staying in ‘Sudhar Home’. After the death of her husband when she was staying with her daughter his son had started misbehaving with her there also. Finding no option she started staying in the same old age home.
‘I dedicated all my life to my son but he didn’t care when I needed it most. I feel depressed when I recall those days and see myself now. There is no need of a mother’s day if the children take care of their parents properly’, she recounted with stony eyes.
PNN